Jaisalmer Trip – Travel Guide, How to Reach & Places to Visit

Although the whole of Rajasthan is a living example of majestic opulence, but my favorite place in this storehouse of color and culture is Jaisalmer. That's why I have already taken a ride on the sand dunes here and with my experience I am also going to make complete preparations for your next Jaisalmer trip. You will find here all the information about Jaisalmer attractions to best time to visit.

Jaisalmer is famous for its beautiful forts, lakes and gardens. The city gives us a glimpse of the rich cultural heritage and colors of Rajasthan. Jaisalmer is an important and commercial city as it is situated on the camel trade route. The festivals celebrated in Jaisalmer attract tourists from India and all over the world.

A glimpse of Jaisalmer

The word Jaisalmer means "hill fort of Jaisal", which is a major tourist attraction of India. Jaisalmer is named after Maharawal Jaisal Singh, who founded the city in 1156 AD. The city is known for Desert Safari and its Jaisalmer Fort, which is a living fort and is also known as the Golden Fort. Jaisalmer city is also known as 'Golden City'. The reason for this is the houses and forts here painted in golden, sandy colors.

State - Rajasthan (India) Days to visit - 2-3 days USP- Historical Monument Language - Hindi, Rajasthani, English, Urdu Season - Summer (25-44⁰C) Winter (5-24⁰C) Best time to visit - October to March

History

Jaisalmer city was founded in 1156 by a Rajput king Maharawal Jaisal Singh. The courage and determination of the Rajputs is also revealed in the history of Jaisalmer. The city used to be a major trade center as it was the trade route of western countries to India.

Places to Visit

• Jaisalmer Fort (Jain Temple, Palace, Musum, City View Point)
• Kuldhara - an abandoned mysterious village
• Amar Sagar
• Sam Sand Dunes
• Jaisalmer War Museum
• Gadisar Lake
• Patwon Ki Haveli
• Nathmal Ji Ki Haveli
• Salim Singh Ki Haveli
• Bada Bagh
• Thar Heritage Museum
• Indo Pak Border (Longewala Post and Tanot Mata Temple)

Things to Do

• Camel safari
• Jeep Safari
• Boating in Gadisar Lake
• Festival of the Desert

Fairs and Festivals

Fairs and festivals give a glimpse of the rich cultural heritage of the city. Desert Festival is the main festival of Jaisalmer which is celebrated in the month of February and March. The festival is celebrated at Sam Sand Dunes which is 42 km from the city. Is situated at this distance. The major attractions of the festival include camel races, folk performances and cultural programs.

Ramdevra Mela is another popular festival celebrated in this city. This festival is celebrated to pay tribute to Saint Baba Ramdev. The city receives an influx of tourists during these festivals.

Shopping

Jaisalmer is well known for its mirror-work, embroidered fabrics and rugs, blankets, oil lamps, vintage stonework items, colorful fabrics, wooden items, silk fabrics and silver jewelry. Some of the famous markets in Jaisalmer are Sadar Bazar, Pansari Bazar, Seema Gram, Gandhi Darshan, Manak Chowk and Khadi Village Industries Emporium. The fort also has good shops where you can buy traditional Rajasthani items. If you are in Jaisalmer then you must visit here. Talking about the market of Jaisalmer, there is no need for bargaining here, the shopkeepers fix the price in advance.

How to Reach

By Air - Jaisalmer is not directly connected by air. About 300 KM from Jaisalmer. The Jodhpur airport, located far away, is the nearest airport to the land of the desert. Tourists can hire taxis from Jodhpur Airport to reach the city.

By Road- Jaisalmer city is situated on NH 15. Rajasthan Roadways' deluxe and ordinary buses as well as several private operators connect Jaisalmer to all the important cities of the country. From the bus terminus, travelers can take advantage of local modes of transport to reach their hotels or places to visit.

By Rail - Jaisalmer has daily connectivity with all the important cities of India. Direct trains from Delhi, Jaipur and Jodhpur can be availed to reach Jaisalmer. Jaisalmer is one of the major stations for traveling by India's most luxurious train "Palace on Wheels".

Distance from major cities:

Delhi: 793 kms Jaipur: 585 kms Jodhpur: 294 kms Udaipur: 522 km

Accommodation

Jaisalmer is an important place for those visiting Rajasthan. There are different types of options for tourists to stay. You can choose from a number of hotels in Jaisalmer and guest houses can range from budget hotels to luxury and heritage hotels. One can also choose from desert camps and tents at Sam Sand Dunes and Khuri. These tents in the camps are equipped with a variety of modern amenities and every care is taken to provide comfort for the tourists.

Places around Jaisalmer

It is located in the western part of the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is the largest district of Rajasthan and the third largest district of the country in India. Situated in the heart of the Thar Desert, lies Pakistan on its western side and the beautiful city of Bikaner in the south. Jodhpur is located in the eastern part of Jaisalmer, another city of color and tradition. The population of this city is very less as compared to other parts of the state.

Check Out: Jodhpur Jaisalmer Tour Package